Top image: Rozanne Nel & Francois Rautenbach

Boplaas Family Vineyards has again proven worthy of its champion status following the release of this year’s assessment by experts compiling the 2024 Winemag 10-Year-Old Wine Report. Boplaas was named as producer of the best fortified wine.

The judges’ favourite was the Boplaas Heritage White Muscadel 2014, for which they awarded 94 points and the title of Best Fortified Wine.

In compiling the report, the judging panel considered 82 wines from 46 producers. The panel comprised Winemag editor Christian Eades, Wine Cellar Fine Wine Merchants CEO James Pietersen, and Francois Rautenbach, outgoing general manager of Singita Premier Wine Direct.

“This achievement is significant because it demonstrates how every part of our portfolio is underwritten by quality,” says Boplaas winemaker Margaux Nel. “Boplaas is well-known as a benchmark producer of Cape port and still wines from Portuguese varieties, so having our Muscadel recognised by this panel is an important indicator for wine-lovers and collectors.

“Equally importantly, it also shows the outstanding age-ability of Boplaas fortified wines,” she adds. 

The latest achievement returns the Boplaas name to the report’s list of Top 10 producers.  Boplaas featured in this enviable group in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. It has also previously been named Best Overall in 2019 with the Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2009, which received 95 points.

The Boplaas Heritage Muscats are crafted according to traditional vinification methods, only in exceptional vintages from select low-yielding vineyard sites. Careful cellaring rewards the patient collector of wines capable of developing for many decades.

The Boplaas Heritage White Muscadel 2014 greets the taster with intense notes of citrus, candied pineapple, ginger, honeysuckle, and plump apricot. The palate is full and lengthy yet lifted by bright acidity and rounded by vibrant spice.

The Boplaas Heritage White Muscadel is available at R160/bottle, alongside with Boplaas’s other many award-winning wines, from the winery’s online shop at www.boplaas.co.za and its various tasting outlets. These are located at Boplaas in Calitzdorp, Redberry Farm outside George, Hart & Bosch Village in Hartenbos and Old Nick Village in Plettenberg Bay.